AMERICANS could get their hands on up to $5,600 after a data breach settlement.

Eligible people can get their share of a huge $675,000 pot of cash and they won’t just need a receipt when filing their claims.

PRGX Global, a data analytics company, has come to a financial agreement to resolve a lawsuit.

This company provides services to the retail, health, consumer goods, technology, and telecommunications industries.

The lawsuit accused the data analytics company of failing to protect consumers from a data breach in April 2022, according to Top Class Actions.

This suit claimed the company should have taken reasonable cybersecurity steps to protect people’s data.

PRGX Global has not admitted to any wrongdoing but agreed to set aside this pot of cash to resolve allegations put against it.

Affected individuals would have received a notice from the company warning them of the data breach.

UP FOR GRABS

Individuals could receive up to $5,600 but their payout depends on several factors.

Firstly, class members can get their hands on up to $600 for for any out-of-pocket losses.

These can include charges like bank fees and credit expenses.

Class members can also expense up to three hours of time lost from the data breach at a rate of $30 per hour.

Potential payouts also include up to $5,000 for extraordinary losses.

This could include money lost through identity theft or fraud.

Affected people who have not had any financial losses or damages can also claim up to $75.

Some class members can also get credit monitoring and identity theft protection services for three years.

ELIGIBILITY

People who received a notice from PRGX Global about the April 2022 incident can join the settlement.

This message would have informed people that their information could have been compromised during the data breach.

Claimants will need to submit any receipts, bank statements, or tax papers relating to any money lost.

DEADLINES

The final hearing for this lawsuit will be held on January 23.

Eligible people must submit their claim form by February 1 to be in with a shot of getting their cash.

These can be sent through the settlement’s website.

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Members of a data breach class action lawsuit could claim up to $5,600[/caption]

A brand new island has emerged out of the water near Venice, offering a year-round secluded sunbathing spot away from the thronging crowds.

The small island near the entrance to the Venice lagoon used to pop out of the water each summer, but would be washed away by winter storm surges and high tides.

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The island of Bacan, circled in red, is the newest island in the Venice Lagoon[/caption]

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Venice is flooded with millions of tourists every summer who flock to see the system of canals[/caption]

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The Baby Mose barrier, part of the Mose flood defences that have allowed the permanent formation of Bacan[/caption]

Thanks to Venice’s new flood defences, the island has not been washed away since 2020, meaning it is now considered a permanent feature of the lagoon.

Venice locals have visited the spot during summer for years, lounging on the warm sands and bathing in the shallow water.

The island offered a perfect secluded spot away from the city that crawled with tourists – and now Venetians can use it all year round.

The small sand bank is 250 metres long and just 10 metres wide, and it would build up each spring as currents deposited silt.

Since the strip stopped being washed away, the sands have bloomed with life.

A rich array of plants, including samphire, rushes and small native trees called tamarisk, have taken root on the sliver of land.

The plant roots help to hold the structure of the island together, making it more resistant to the tides.

There is also a healthy supply of shellfish populating the island.

Giovanni Cecconi, an engineer who worked on Venice’s flood defences, told The Times: “I have friends who visited [Bacan] yesterday and collected 5kg of razor clams.”

The key to the new island, according to Giovanni, is Venice’s flood defence system, named Mose.

He explained: ““The barrier […] accelerates the flow of water into the lagoon when it is open, meaning more sand comes in, helping sustain Bacan.

“And by raising the barrier in winter to stop high waters, the island is protected from the surges that used to erode it.”

The Mose defences installed in 2020 consist of three mobile gates at the entrances to the lagoon that can be raised at high tide to protect the bay.

Bacan has not disappeared underwater since 2020, leading people to make the link.

Some experts, however, have different ideas.

Andrea D’Alpaos, a hydrologist from Padua University, noted that raising the Mose barriers stops silt and sand flooding in – which is vital to topping up sand marshes like Bacan. 

He told The Times: “We know 70 per cent of the growth of the marshes is dependent on those storm surges.

“Keeping the salt marshes healthy helps fight climate change since they absorb 30 times as much carbon as a forest.”

D’Alpaos also pointed out that Bacan has been forming since long before 2020, meaning the Mose defence system is only likely to be part of a more complicated story.

The city of Venice has been struggling to cope with the number of tourists that flood into the city each year – usually around 30 million.

The problem has led to a day trip tax being introduced, and limits on the size of groups allowed in.

Italian tourism boards have encouraged visitors to explore parts of the lagoon, to ease the pressure on the main city.

However, locals who enjoy the peace of Bacan will be keen to avoid the island becoming overwhelmed.

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An aeriel view of Venice and the surrounding lagoon[/caption]

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Tourists crowd the area near the Rialto Bridge in Venice[/caption]

DRIVERS are bracing the winter months armed with de-icer to combat the frozen windows of their cars.

Heading out to the car to find your windscreen frozen up can set your morning back – but what about when there’s ice found on the inside too? Here’s how to deal with it…

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A frozen windscreen can become expensive if treated the wrong way[/caption]

Frosty interior

Waking to a thick layer of ice on the windscreen can be an annoying start to the day.

However, jumping in the car to find that the inside of the windscreen is also frozen can be an unexpected surprise.

Ice on the inside of the windscreen is down to the same two factors that affect the exterior of the car: moisture and temperature.

It can be caused by a number of things from wet clothes, shoes left in the car overnight, or a window left accidentally open.

If you had the heating on high just before parking, it can leave additional moisture in the air which can turn to ice when temperatures drop overnight.

Sometimes the root cause can be tricky to find as even a loose seal on the windscreen could cause moisture to enter the vehicle.

Preventatives

The best way to prevent the inside of the windscreen from freezing is to prevent and remove as much build-up of moisture as you can from your car’s interior.

If there’s an obvious source – be it wet clothes or dodgy door seals – fix that first.

However, if the cause is less obvious you can use special dehumidifier pads to suck moisture from the air.

These reusable bags use silica gel which works very well in ridding the car cockpit of moisture.

A quick alternative is to place a tub with either some salt, rice or cat litter inside your car.

The ingredients will naturally soak up the moisture in your car, but you’ll need to replace it regularly.

Also, turn your heating off at least five minutes before arriving at your destination to rid your car of unwanted moisture.

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Providing it’s not raining, you could put your windows down to air out the car when you’re just a few roads away from home.

This will ensure your car is properly ventilated before parking up which will limit the chances of ice building up on the inside of your windscreen.

Applying anti-fog products to the windscreen can also reduce condensation, as well as using a sun shade to help regulate interior temperatures and reduce moisture build-up.

Penalty points

Failure to properly clear the windscreen of snow or ice can result in the driver receiving a fixed penalty notice under the CU20 penalty code. 

Using a vehicle with parts or accessories in a “dangerous condition” could result in a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points.

Simply removing the ice from the driver’s side of the windscreen is not enough – you must de-ice the entire area, using the wipers when the ice has melted.

Highway Code rule 229 states that all of your windows need clearing and demisting.

Your vehicle licence plate must also be visible.

Although it may seem like a major hassle when in a rush to get to work, it could prove an expensive shortcut if you do not defrost your car before setting off on your journey.

The Highway Code stipulates that if you’re driving in adverse weather conditions you must, by law, be able to see out of every glass panel in your vehicle to ensure you have maximum visibility. 

A SECURITY flaw has been detected in a very common car model – with over 1.4 million vehicles potentially affected.

Experts have revealed 12 new security vulnerabilities affecting the Skoda Superb III, which is one of the world’s most popular sedans.

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A popular car model is reportedly under threat from hackers[/caption]

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The vehicle is one of the world’s best-known sedans[/caption]

Worryingly, these weaknesses could allow a threat to access the Superb’s GPS and speed information.

Worse still, they could even potentially remotely record conversations and access the car’s infotainment screen.

Techradar reported that PCAutomotive’s cybersecurity researchers revealed they were able to exploit the car’s vulnerabilities by injecting malware into the vehicle without authentication.

The security flaws even allowed them to achieve unrestricted code execution, and to run malicious code when the unit starts up.

This could result in a hacker taking screenshots of the in-car infotainment screen, record conversations through the microphone, and access live GPS coordinates via a Bluetooth connection.

However, reassuringly, controls such as the car’s brakes, steering, and accelerator were not accessible.

It’s believed these Skoda’s vulnerabilities could impact over 1.4 million vehicles.

Wider concerns include the fact that Skoda supplies cars to law enforcement bodies worldwide.

This comes as a female driver has revealed the one question men shout at her every time she visits the gas pump – and the snarky reply that quickly shuts them up.

Cate turns heads each time she drives to the gas station to fill up her Volkswagen Jetta.

In a video, the TikToker explained that when she reaches for a diesel pump, exasperating men always question her decision.

Her ride has a TDI (turbocharged direct injection) engine, which is powered by diesel fuel.

Cate, a recent college graduate, knows exactly what she’s doing at the pump, but nearby know-it-alls think she’ll ruin her ride.

“I’m a dumb blonde, and they think I’m just using the pretty green pump,” she joked in the now-viral video.

One time, an older man ran right out of the gas station to try and stop her when she started filling up.

He asked if she knew whether she was putting diesel in her car, but this time, the outraged driver was done explaining herself.

Instead of answering his question, she said, “Oh no,” then got right back in the car and speeded away.

“And he was like, ‘Wait, how’d her car not break down?'” she said.

And elsewhere, tens of thousands of used cars sold in a major city this year have had their odometers rolled back, according to reports.

Vehicles sold in Atlanta, Georgia, are showing inaccurate mileage, according to estimates from Carfax.

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Hackers could potentially remotely record conversations and access the car’s infotainment screen[/caption]

13 NEWS fans have been left in shock at the sudden death of Anna Orsini.

The TV station announced the sad passing of the news anchor, aged just 28. Here we take a look at her story.

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News anchor Ana Orsini sadly passed away[/caption]

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Ana was a much-loved member of the 13 News team[/caption]

Born in 1996, Ana Orsini was a journalist and a TV news anchor.

She began her career in the media in Lubbock, Texas, where she worked as an anchor and reporter.

During her time in this role she covered everything from Texas Tech basketball to an investigation on a bridal shop scam.

Ana worked her way up to news anchor at NewsWatch 12, before leaving there in 2023 to join 13 News in Arizona.

Ana’s sad death

Anna died in December 2024, but an exact date, or the cause of her death, have been revealed.

Announcing her sad passing, her employer statement: “13 News Family is saddened to report the passing of our beloved friend and co-anchor Ana Orsini.

“Ana had been at 13 News since June 2023 and we are devastated by her unexpected passing.”

Tributes pour in

T13 News’s morning anchor Tyler Butler, said: “We have some truly sad news to share this morning.

“Our beloved Ana Orsini TV passed away suddenly last week.

“She was truly one of a kind. Crazy passionate about helping animals, she had a great and sarcastic sense of humor, and was so dedicated to her family.”

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Ana friends and work colleagues have paid tribute to her[/caption]

Tyler added: “She LOVED her family and talked about them all the time.

“I’m glad to have been a small part of her work family. Please take a moment today to think about Ana.

Ana was not only beautiful, talented, and hilarious, but she was unlike anyone I’ve ever met. I promise to keep living fully for YOU.

13 News anchor Carsyn Currier

“A time she made you laugh or think about something in a different way.

“She was too young, but we can remember her always.

“For years to come, we’ll be repeating her mantra ‘Let the women do the work!'”

13 News anchor Carsyn Currier also paid tribute to her: “While there isn’t enough time for me to truly describe the incredible person Ana Orsini was, there are a few things I’d like to say in remembrance of one of my best friends.

“Ana was not only beautiful, talented, and hilarious, but she was unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”

Carsyn ended her tribute by saying: “I promise to keep living fully for YOU.”

Ana’s former employer NewsWatch 12 said: “Ana was well-loved by this community and our team, we are sending love to her family during this difficult time.

BASHAR al-Assad’s butcher room, where critics were dismembered and melted in acid, has been uncovered.

The nightmare chamber in Sednaya prison saw some of the most heinous crimes of the Assad dynasty carried out.

The Syrian tyrant was ousted from power last weekend after a 12-day lightning blitz swept aside the regime’s army.

Assad used his prisons to clamp down on critics through violence and imprisonment and keep his sick regime propped up.

But their gory insides have now been revealed as journalists and rebels have been able to enter after guards fled.

One room dubbed the “butcher room” saw bodies sliced up and broken down in acid.

One guard told The Sun’s reporter at the chilling scene: “This is the room where they dismembered the bodies of the prisoners – they cut them up and then likely drained their corpses down into these pipes.

“They threw acid on the ground to dissolve the bodies.”

Days after it had been liberated by the rebels, the horror room was still covered in three of four inches of human faeces, dissolved corpses, and is still home to sawing machines.

A slab used to lay bodies on when cutting them up sits next to a menacing shredder.

A table saw now lies upside down in the waste – it once would have been stood upright and used to slice fingers or limbs off as guards dismembered bodies.

There’s even a cell at one end of the room where captives would have been held before their brutal demise.

Those who survived the horrific ordeal said bodies were crushed, burnt, and dissolved in acid when guards sought to dispose of the people who died.

A mass grave has now been found in another area of Damascus with rows upon rows of dead bodies being investigated.

Sednaya prison, nicknamed the “human slaughterhouse”, was a military prison and death camp operated by Assad’s goons.

Rebels and Syrian civilians have investigated Sednaya prison and all of its secret compartments and underground dungeons after liberating it.

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A mass grave was discovered in Damascus[/caption]

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A large press, rumoured to have been used to dispose of bodies inside Sednaya Prison[/caption]

They have made sick discoveries that show the full barbarity of the Assad regime.

Torture devices have been found inside including a disturbing “Iron Press” device.

The large metal press is thought to have been used to crush victims for torture and also hide evidence of human remains.

Rebels who stormed the jail found dozens of red rope nooses used for mass hangings in an execution room.

Behind many of the walls sit electronic underground doors which led to dark bunkers filled with prisoners.

Horrific footage captures the moment rebels find piles of dead bodies in the dungeons who had been tortured to death.

The bodies were taken to Al-Mujtahid Hospital as teams carried out an investigation into the secret areas of the prison.

Videos showed emaciated political prisoners, who were reached, shackled to concrete beds and screaming to be released.

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A mass grave was uncovered in the Hosseiniya area of Damascus,[/caption]

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An aerial photo of the prison[/caption]

Rebels also discovered a chilling “Book of Death” with the names of nearly 30,000 people executed.

Footage shows rebels, in utter disbelief, flicking through the death book with hundreds of names on each page.

One rebel points out how “even field executions” are present in the book before continuing to stress to his fellow rebels not to destroy or tear the papers.

Shaming Assad’s regime and how much other evidence was destroyed under him, the man says: “People, we must contribute to preserving these properties.

“The regime broke the cameras and destroyed the hard drives – so that these crimes wouldn’t be exposed.”

Haunting images also showed massive piles of clothes and shoes hidden away in a secret compartment.

SEDNAYA PRISON LIBERATED

Sednaya had become synonymous with Assad’s reign of tyranny over the past couple of decades.

Footage from the Syrian capital shows dozens of women and young men reportedly walking free for the first time in years after rebels stormed the national prisons on the weekend.

A clip even shows a toddler leaving a cell as rebels cheered on.

Survivors of the torturous prison provided chilling testimonies of their near-death experiences, claiming it was “carefully designed to humiliate, degrade, sicken, starve and ultimately kill those trapped inside”.

The overthrown dictator Assad previously denied killing thousands of detainees at Sednaya.

He also denied using a secret crematorium to dispose of their remains in 2017.

Despite the denial, the so-called “Caesar” files, which was a collection of over 55,000 photographs, was smuggled out of Syria in 2013 by a former military police photographer.

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Assad’s chilling ‘Iron Press’ that was found in the hellhole prison[/caption]

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Shoes and clothes were found in a secret compartment[/caption]

These images documented the unspeakable torture and deaths of over 11,000 prisoners in Syrian government custody between March 2011 and August 2013.

Some held at the horrific prison of Sednaya say they were raped, and in some cases, forced to rape other inmates.

A regular form of punishment was some kind of torture and severe beatings from guards, it’s claimed, which led to individuals suffering life-changing damage like disabilities or death.

Floors of cells were coated in blood and pus from tortured prisoners, according to a 2017 Amnesty report, with the bodies of dead prisoners collected like rubbish at 9am each morning by guards.

Filipino content creators and businesses that have made a significant impact on TikTok in 2024 were honored at a special Thanksgiving celebration held in Makati on Tuesday.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled the programs for its Big Screen and Tiger Short competition sections.

Go out and win 14 or 15 league games. Finish no worse than third.

After Sunday’s 32-25 victory over the Jaguars, Aaron Rodgers went out of his way to praise one group of Jets. “I want to say one more time, the offensive line had an outstanding game, and I had all day to throw,” Rodgers said. “Big shout out to the big boys. I’m going to love them...